German catch

[David Mantell]

On 7/18/2026 at 11:28 PM, David Mantell said:

We've finally reached our last 1986 bout and it's a special one:

 

Two big men go at it that summer.  Otto is now obese,  eight years into his second CWA title reign. Next year he and Peter Wilhelm will seize the IBV from Nico S and turn it into Catch Wrestling Austria. Andre has let the Machines angle get its own steam and is off having a rest , filming the Princess Bride,, chilling out - and having this match.  Andre had plenty of visits eastwards across the Rhine before moving from  France to Quebec.

This is part of a professionally filmed Otto's Greatest Fights videotape - we see a caption slides with an image of the CWA belt.  

Runde  1 is very much built around armlocks,double wristlocks, Hammerlocks from front,  position armbars.  If Andre doesn't have a kimura/double wristlock/ hammerlock with bar in place, he is desperate y trying to get one, try to bend a straight Otto arm into a figure four position. It's very much an old German.Wrestling, the slow leverage battles of Axe CV6 Otto tries to counter with a crotch holds, trying for a slam.  Andre is hesitant to release on the bell and although his alliance with Heenan is 6 months off, he settles into the heel role for this bout from this point.  To be fair he only knew much of rounds from trips to the UK, Spain and Germany/Austria.

Runde 2 is more of a slug and punch brawl. Otto slugs out of the armlock attempt and off they go.  Andre tries choking Otto who shoves him to ringside and later ties him up.  Otto is now  the one trying for a double wristlock.  He levers Andre down, turns him into the  Guard, tries and tries for a cross press but Andre turns him over and gets an American small package for  one (or maybe it was a very messy side folding press.Andrecgets up but misses a splash and is kicked around as he gets the ropes.  They brawl in the ropes as the bell (hooter goes). 

Runde 3 - more of the same - armbars on the ropes - slug and punch.  Andre gets a leglock on the mat.  Otto gets a top wristlock on the mat then an armhank.  Andre sells it noisily.  Aand eventually gets his own leglock.  Into Gotch toehold!. Otto tries to push up and holds on until the hooter goes.

Runde 4. Andre gets long knockdowns from an elbow and a headbutt then choked Otto until Wanz reverses on the ropes. Wanz ejected Andre sits on Otto like he did in the WWF.to opponents such as Ax.  Otto gets a front chancer.y into abdominal stretch.   The hooter goes.

Runde 5. Oddly like the finish of WM3. Andre goes to work, misses a boot, Otto gets a slam and somersault splash but Andre puts up a boot to catch Otto on the chin.  Andre covers Otto and eventually gets a very slow 3 count for the one fall required

Found a promo for this match:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1572592804362902/